The quieter you are, Harry, the quicker I'll be," he said.
Alton smiled a little.

"I don't think it's necessary," he said.
"Still, if it will please you, Tom." Seaforth clutched the fingers held out to him, and felt suddenly chilly.

He would have touched his lips with his tongue, for the blood seemed to have gone out of them, but that he felt Alton's eyes were upon him.

Accordingly he turned his face, which he fancied was growing a trifle colourless, aside, and for a moment or two watched Okanagan, who was kneeling with one hand pressed upon the smeared whiteness of the uncovered limb.

Seaforth could hear his own heart beating and the thud of snow shaken off a swinging branch upon the tent, and see the light the whiteness outside flung in glint upon the slender knife.